Even from the very start of John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, the uniqueness of George, as a character, is already noticeable. He is described as "small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features" and has an obvious dominance over the relationship between Lennie and himself. This lets the reader know from a very early stage in the book that George is different, and probably the essential character. George's character seems to be used by Steinbeck to reflect the major themes of the novel: loneliness, prejudice, the importance of companionship, the danger of devoted companionships, and the harshness of Californian ranch life.
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<br>George's relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his …show more content…

He also knows to be naturally suspicious of the other people he encounters, for fear that they will be prejudiced against Lennie which may result in the loss of potential friendships after he is forced to protect Lennie. An example of this is his natural reaction to Curley's wife when he warns Lennie to stay away from the "jail-bait all set on the trigger." Much of George's character concerns his relationship and interaction with Lennie, perhaps because he is so constantly occupied with Lennie that the relationship has begun to emphasize his entire character. He cares for Lennie, ensuring his safety and instructing him in almost every situation. This again typifies the theme of the necessity of companionship shown in Of Mice and Men.
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<br>Excluding his dependent relationship with Lennie, the main factor that helps George to remain focused and prevents him from taking up the life of other workers is his dream of owning his own farm. This dream is frequently revisited throughout Of Mice and Men, and is especially told to Lennie, and in a way that suggests he has done it many times before; "he repeated his words rhythmically". Initially, it seems that the dream calms Lennie and is used simply as a method of controlling him, however later on in the novel it becomes apparent that the dream is just as much a hope-giver to George as it is to Lennie, as he becomes genuinely